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California Republicans Get Involved Today
California Republican Party Headquarters (Click on Image for larger view)
Flap received this press release last week. If you wish to volunteer for the California Republican Party whether it be for a state or national campaign, click on the image for a larger view and give the folks a call.GOP headquarters are spread throughout the state and they would love to have your participation.
Technorati Tags: California Republican Party, GOP
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California Supreme Court Upholds People’s Right to Vote on Gay Marriage
Newlyweds Sharon Papo (L) and Amber Weiss toast each other outside of San Francisco City Hall after exchanging wedding vows on the first full day of legal same-sex marriages in California on June 17, 2008 California voters will have the chance to vote in November on whether to end gay marriage after the state’s top court declined on Wednesday to remove an initiative on the issue from the ballot.
The California Supreme Court, meeting in closed session today, denied a petition to remove Proposition 8, the California Marriage Protection Act from the November ballot.Today the California Supreme Court rejected the case brought by same-sex “marriage” advocates, who intended to prevent California voters from voting on the California Marriage Protection Act (“Amendment”) in November. The court’s decision means the Amendment will stay on the ballot. It also allows the Secretary of State to print voter information pamphlets on the issue.
Last month Liberty Counsel filed a motion to intervene in this lawsuit, asking the court to allow the people to vote on the Amendment. Liberty Counsel represents the Campaign for California Families, Randy Thomasson, and Larry Bowler. The lawsuit against the Amendment was filed on behalf of three voters and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, the ACLU and Equality California against California Secretary of State, Debra Bowen, who certified the Amendment.
On June 2, 2008, the Amendment was certified by the Secretary of State for the November ballot. The Amendment states: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” If passed, the Amendment would nullify the 4-3 ruling of the California Supreme Court issued on May 15 that allows same-sex “marriages” to go forward in California, and would ban same-sex “marriage” in the state.
The same-sex “marriage” advocates were seeking to remove the Amendment from the November ballot, arguing that “the rules for revising the California Constitution were not properly followed.” Their brief claimed that an initiative was not enough to put the Amendment on the ballot, since it must also be approved by two-thirds of the legislature. The suit also alleged that petitions for the initiative, which were circulated prior to the ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, were misleading because they stated the Amendment would not change existing law and would not have a financial impact on the state. Liberty Counsel’s motion to intervene disproved these claims.
Polls show that most Californians want the Amendment. A poll conducted on May 30, 2008, by ccAdvertising shows that 56% of California residents support marriage as being between one man and one woman. Another poll by the Los Angeles Times similarly revealed that 54% of those polled supported the Amendment and only 35% opposed it.
The California Supreme Court rarely intervenes in the electoral process PRIOR to an election. This is NOT to say that the same court who approved gay marriage could later overturn this vote of the people in November. But, on the face of it, this would be a judicial reach as well.
Let the expensive media campaign begin.
Since the latest polls show Barack Obama blowing out John McCain in the California Presidential race will there be much incentive for the LEFT to turn out for this initiative, Constitutional amendment?
Stay tuned……
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Barack Obama Supports California Gay/Same Sex MarriageGay Marriage Activists Try to Block California Initiative Vote
Technorati Tags: Gay Marriage, California Marriage Protection Act
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Gay Marriage Activists Try to Block California Initiative Vote
Michael Ramirez on Gay MarriageIt was bad enough that the California Supreme Court overturned a vote of Californians banning gay marriage. But now the same court is being asked to invalidate another California Initiative BEFORE the vote.The Limit on Marriage Constitutional Amendment has qualified by initiative and will appear on the California November general election ballot.
Supporters of gay rights have asked the California Supreme Court to block a November ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriages.
In a legal brief filed late Friday with the high court, the gay rights groups argue that the initiative is a “revision” of the state Constitution, which would require involvement of the Legislature, rather than simply an amendment, which can be approved by a majority vote in an election.
The California courts in the past have been very reluctant to throw out a measure before going to the voters. However, who knows what this court will do?
The Alliance Defense Fund has vowed to fight this latest legal challenge to allowing California voters decide the gay marriage issue.
“Equality California and its allies are desperate to evade democracy. First, they used the courts to erase the votes of nearly 5 million Californians who voted to protect marriage. Now, they are trying to silence the people’s voice forever,†said ADF Senior Counsel Glen Lavy. “This is just another attempt to force a radical political agenda upon the people of California. The opponents of marriage are willing to use any means necessary to impose their will.â€
“ADF and ProtectMarriage will defend the right of the people to participate in the democratic process and vote on the constitutional amendment,†Lavy added.
The gay marriage proponents are obviously afraid of another election. They will lose and gay marriage AGAIN will not be recognized.
Sadly, the legal challenges will not end by the homosexual lobby.
Technorati Tags: gay marriage, gay rights, homosexual
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Tony Strickland Watch: Fighting in the Streets?
The Hyatt Westlake Plaza Hotel in Westlake Village, California, the site of a Tony Strickland – Mitt Romney fundraising event, June 17
Flap understands there will be GOP led counter-protests to Hannah-Beth Jackson’s sponsored protests prior to Tony Srickland’s fundraiser with Mitt Romney tomorrow night.Will there be an Elephant on Donkey takin’ it to the streets?
Apparently so……..
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Receiving Campaign Contributions from Tobacco Companies a Campaign Issue?
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger enjoying a cigar. Since he can’t smoke cigars inside his office, Schwarzenegger erected the tent outside, decorated it in an African jungle theme, and used it frequently to entertain Democratic lawmakers.
Is receiving contributions from a Tobacco company a campaign issue? Well, the Ventura County Star political reporter and Sacramento Bureau Chief Timm Herdt and progressive left-wing VC Star blogger Brian Dennert seem to think so.
The nation’s largest tobacco company has donated $50,000 to the Ventura County Republican Central Committee as the local party gears up to help GOP candidate Tony Strickland in what is expected to be a multimillion-dollar campaign this fall in the 19th Senate District.
The donation was solicited by county Chairman Mike Osborn and committee member Dean Kunicki as part of an aggressive attempt to raise money for the coming campaign season, which will be highlighted by what has been targeted by both parties as the key legislative race in California.
The contribution accounts for 88 percent of the $56,800 the county party had raised this year through the most recent reporting period. Most of the rest, $6,000, came from the state Republican Party.
On May 19, two days after the reporting period closed, the county party received an additional $30,200 from Senate Republican leader Dave Cogdill.
“I’ve been knocking on lots of doors, looking for people who want to see us be successful,” Osborn said.
The $50,000 contribution came from the Altria Group, parent company of Philip Morris USA, which makes half the cigarettes sold in the United States. Osborn said he has no concerns about accepting such a large sum from the tobacco industry.
What is the Flap?
You would think from the Ventura County Star that the Ventura County Republican Party was accepting money from drug lords or crack dealers.
The last time Flap checked smoking was NOT illegal and the manufacture of cigars, cigarettes and other tobacco products was NOT illegal. Moreover, there are many Americans employed by the tobacco industry who pay their taxes, vote and enjoy their pursuit of happiness like everyone else.
Also, the state of California and the federal government gladly tax the purchase of these products.
What is REALLY the Flap?
The political agenda of the Ventura County Star, Timm Herdt and Brian Dennert is to paint Ventura County Republicans as immoral,unhealthy and irresponsible pols who take the money to the detriment of Ventura County citizens and voters. Flap invites the readers to look at Dennert’s and Herdt’s blogs and see if they can refute Flap’s opinion of their BIASED agenda.
Does Flap think smoking is unhealthy? You bet. But, I do not believe it is criminal to smoke in a responsible way and according to California law. Nor is it a campaign issue if members of the California legislature lawfully accept campaign money from companies that make tobacco products.
A question back to Timm Herdt: If Tony Strickland’s opponent Democrat Hanna-Beth Jackson accepts ANY campaign contributions from the Democrat Party, California State employee groups and/or Union PACS who have received money from the tobacco industry will she return the money?
Flap thinks it is doubtful because that “distasteful” tobacco cash is heavily laundered in Jackson’s campaign reports. Check them out here.
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Elton Gallegly Watch: Marta Who?
Marta Jorgensen of Solvang, California who had withdrawn from her withdrawal in the Democrat primary race for California’s 24th Congressional District won the right to face off against 22 year incumbent Congressman Elton Gallegy last night.Marta Jorgensen, reached by phone Tuesday evening and informed of the early returns, was incredulous. “You’re kidding! That’s a pretty amazing thing.”
For three weeks during the campaign, Jorgensen had suspended campaigning and announced she was supporting Jill Martinez, a developer of affordable housing and the Democratic nominee from two years ago.
But, saying she thought Martinez and Oak Park insurance agent Mary Pallant were not paying enough attention to Santa Barbara County voters, Jorgensen jumped back in.
“I was certain I had shot myself in the foot on that,” she said. “I thought maybe I’d get 8 or 10 percent.”
With 83 percent of the returns counted, Jorgensen was leading, with 47 percent of the vote, over Martinez, with 32 percent, and Pallant, with 21 percent.
The winner will face incumbent Rep. Elton Gallegly, who easily prevailed in the Republican primary over Westlake Village attorney Michael Tenenbaum. Gallegly led, 77 percent to 23 percent.
So, why did this unknown, underfunded and almost random person win the Democrat nomination. I mean are the Democrats that stupid and uninformed?
Timm Herdt at the VC Star says it was the ballot designations:
- Marta Jorgensen – Educator
- Jill Martizez – Businesswoman/Housing Developer (Martinez ran as a minister two years ago)
- Mary Pallant – Insurance Agent
Some discussion over at Calitics, a Left-wing NUTROOTS site supports this thesis:
Nevertheless, let this be a lesson for many Democrats currently considering elected office: among the many other considerations in an election season, don’t overlook the power of a progressive-sounding ballot designation that shies away from anything having to do with business, housing development, insurance or the like. Democrats are fed up with anything related to Republican-sounding industries and are looking for a change–even if they do sometimes look for it in the most shallow ways.
And that, it must be admitted, is actually a good thing.
Thus, the Democrats are fickle and shallow?
Flap says RIGHT. After all, Marta Jorgensen just a few weeks ago begged off campaigning down south in Simi Valley because she could not afford the gas to get there.
By the way, Elton Gallegly now competing for his 12th term in Congress at the last reporting period boasted over $900,000 in his campaign coffers.Marta Jorgensen in November will be another failed Democrat challenger to Congressman Elton Gallegly.
Rate the California 24th Congressional District as SAFE GOP.
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Representative Elton Gallegly Breezes to Easy Victory in CA-24 GOP Primary Race
CA-24 Watch: A Democrat Candidate Returns
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Elton Gallegly Watch: The Post California GOP Primary Party
Rep. Elton Gallegy, R- Simi Valley talking with Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten; also Ventura County GOP Chairman Mike Osborn talking with Ventura County Sheriff Bob Brooks
Representative Elton Gallegly won his race for the GOP nomination in CA-24 yesterday defeating challenger attorney Michael Tenenbaum by a 77% to 23% margin – a whopping 54 points. This was a wipeout against Tenenbaum who had also run two years previous.
And, Flap was invited to the post election party at The Vineyards in Simi Valley. Interestingly enough this was the same restaurant that Flap had celebrated Gallegly’s first GOP primary win 22 years ago.
On to the the photos:
Rep. Gallegly and Ventura count Sheriff Bob Brooks
Rep. Gallegly and wife Janice
Rep. Gallegly, former California GOP Assemblyman and California State Senate GOP nominee Tony Strickland with wife California GOP Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, Judge-elect Jeff Bennett looks on
Thousand Oaks Mayor Jacqui V. Irwin and Thousand Oaks Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Tom Glancy
Simi Valley Councilman Glen Becerra
Rep. Elton Gallegly looks at election returns with Darin Henry, Ventura County Republican Party, Area 2 member and Peggy Sadler, Area 4 member
The question of the night: Who of the above will run for the 24th Congressional District when Representative Elton Gallegly ever decides to retire?
Stay tuned…….
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Representative Elton Gallegly Breezes to Easy Victory in CA-24 GOP Primary Race
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Tom McClintock Wins GOP Nomination for California Congress
California State Senator Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks last night during election night victory
Photo courtesy of the Sacramento Bee
Congratulations to Flap’s California State Senator Tom McClintock in his election victory last night in the California Primary Election. Tom who was raised in Thousand Oaks and served many years as its representiative in the California Assembly and Senate ran and WON for the GOP nomination for a Northern California open Congressional seat (CA-4).
Tom McClintock, emerging victorious Tuesday from a bruising Republican primary, will face Democrat Charlie Brown in a November match-up to replace retiring Rep. John Doolittle in Congress.
With all precincts reporting, McClintock held a decisive lead over former Sacramento-area Rep. Doug Ose, 54 percent to 39 percent.
“It looks like we’re headed toward a monumental victory,” McClintock, a state senator representing a district 400 miles away, told cheering supporters in Placer County.
Flap remembers fondly the early years of the McClintock political career and walking precincts with Tom in Camarillo as he ran in his first contested GOP primary election for the California Assembly in 1982. Tom won the primary and went on to be the then youngest elected member of the California Legislature.
In 1983 (after having been sworn into office) Tom gave a tour of the California State Capitol during the California Republican Party organizational meeting which Flap and family attended. Here are the photos and note Flap’s long and brown colored hair:
Tom McClintock and Flap at the rostrum of the California Assembly 1983
Flap knows Tom will continue to be a strong conservative voice for California voters.
And, one thing is for sure: McClintock will be a “PAIN IN THE ASS” for Democrat Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
McClintock runs against the Democrat nominee, Charlie Brown in the November general election. He will be heavily favored in this very GOP gerrymandered Congressional District.
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Jeff Bennett Wins Ventura County Superior Court Seat
Jeff Bennett, Ventura County (California) Chief Deputy District Attorney has won his race for the Ventura County Superior court bench.The results:
Congratulations to Judge Bennett.Flap had the opportunity to take a few photos of the new judge at Representative Elton Gallegly’s post campaign party yesterday evening:
Representative Elton Gallegly R-Simi Valley and newly elected Ventura County Superior Court Judge Jeff Bennett
Judge Jeff Bennett and family
Judge-elect Bennett will take the bench in January 2009 when Judge Bruce Clark who has previously announced his departure retires.
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Representative Elton Gallegly Breezes to Easy Victory in CA-24 GOP Primary Race
Representative Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley, in California’s 24th congressional District easily won GOP renomination in the California Primary Election yesterday. Gallegly bested attorney Michael Tenenbaum by over 4 to 1 in a low turnout GOP primary election.
Gallegy who will face off with Democrat Marta Jorgensen in the November general election will be competing for his 12th term in Congress.
Flap was invited to the Gallegly victory party last night at The Vineyards in Simi Valley just as he was 22 years ago when Gallegly first won the GOP nomination.
Representative Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley and Flap
Gallegly will have an easy re-election campaign in November. More on the race and the “SURPRISE” Democrat nominee later.
Stay tuned……
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California Primary Election 2008 Watch: Elton Gallegly for Congress
CA-24 Watch: A Democrat Candidate Returns